What has happened with this cover? I need your help

[RICHARD]

U.S. cover with Scott #501 Canceled  by A Chattanooga Tennessee  Dec 31,1917. Address to Stoneville North Carolina. With Card letter insert  Dated Chattanooga Tenn. Dec 27,1917. Miss sent magenta strait line to Hartsville South Carolina. It seams like just a regular redirected cover but its not The Hartsville cancel South Carolina is Dated Jan 3 1917 ? This makes this interesting If we know the earlies used Scott 501 was June 5 1917. And listed in Linn's Stamp Facts. So what  is this? I believe the mistake was made  in Hartsville South Carolina There received cancel being dated Jan 3 1917. Would this mistake count as the earliest used 501 on cover? Any input I would be grateful for Thank you.

[Webmaster]

I think it is pretty clear that the clerk in Hartsville SC failed to change the year slug in the cancel to 1918 after New Year and does not represent an earliest known use.

Roy

[RICHARD]

Yes likely but still interesting, Although Sweetwater just happened to cancel the stamp and not Chattanooga.